Oil Cleansers usually comes first because it is the most effective method of removing the makeup and sunscreen you’ve put on in the morning. This step comes before the foaming cleanser as it effectively softens the tough oil based products and helps with the next step of cleansing. It is not uncommon to have a double cleanse (oil cleanse + foaming cleanse), in fact it is an essential part of the Asian skincare routine.

Essences and Serums

Essences and serums contain active ingredients that yield specific results. This means this is the most customizable part of your skincare routine. If you are looking for a specific result, you will then have to choose the essence and serums with the active ingredients that contributes towards that specific result. Essences are thinner than serums, serums are thicker and thus contain more concentrated active ingredients. Note this doesn’t mean that serums are better than essences, because skins react differently for different concentrations of active ingredients.